Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/475

IN BEHALF OF TIIK ROYALIST CAUSK. 373 killed a trooper and liurt a liorsc, and put them into siicli a fright that they ran all presently towards their body, in great confusion and amazement." In the year 1645, Sir Thomas Fairfax sat down })eforc Oxford, for fifteen days, commencing I^lay '22nd, and ending June 5th ; he made his appearance first by some scattered horse near Cowley, May 19th, from thence they, with their horse and foot, passed over Bullingdon Green to Marston, showing themselves on Headington Hill. May 22nd, he sat down before Oxford, and then began the siege, making a breastwork on the east side of Cherwell River, and a bridge over that part of the said river near Marston. May 23rd, Godstow House was fired by the o^Ticr, David Walter, Esq., lest the enemy should make it a place of defence. May 26th, Sir Thomas Fairfax put over four foot regi- ments and thirteen carriages, at the new bridge over the Cherwell River ; he having his head quarters at ]Iarston, Oliver Cromw^ell at Wytham, and Major Browne at Wolvercote. May 27th, two regiments (the white and red), with two pieces of ordnance, marched over Isis at Godstow^ Bridge, and so by Botley to South Hinxsey ; which party wTre continually playing on that in Sir Oliver Smyth's house (held by him of University college), standing without the south port, and continually guarded and relieved w^itli soldiers out of Oxford garrison ; but for the most part repelled with the loss of men and members. All this while the Governor of Oxford, Colonel W. Legge, seeing the Parliamenteers quiet besiegers, and that they fought only with their perspective glasses, was resolved to quicken them, and therefore, June 2nd, about one o'clock at night, he went himself, with nearly 1000 horse and foot, tow^ards Headington Hill, where the Parliamenteers kept a strong guard, as well of horse as foot. While the Governor advanced up the hill, the Parlinmcntcers vapoured and cried aloud, that " the Cavaliers did only tlourish, and durst not come up to them," wherefore, fearing lest^ their stay would not be long there, he sent Colonel David Walter,^ Sir Thomas Gardiner, and Captain Grace, with parties of horse, to fetch a compass by St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and to leave the end of Cheyney Lane, next to Shotover, on the VOL. VIII. 3 E